Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SS4 (Rochford)

See if solar pays off for you in Rochford — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

Solar Calculator

Change the settings below to see how costs and savings work for your situation.

System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
11.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,065
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,413
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
How we calculate this

Solar generation: Based on typical south-facing roof at 35° angle. We account for weather, dirt, and system losses (14%).

How much you'll use directly:

  • Without battery: You'll use about 40% of what you generate. The rest gets sold back to the grid.
  • With 5 kWh battery: You'll use about 70% (battery stores extra for evening use).
  • With 10 kWh battery: You'll use about 75% (more storage means less exported).
  • Panel-only payback: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • Battery & payback: Batteries raise self-use and cut bills, but added hardware cost often lengthens break-even at typical UK rates.
  • When a battery can still make sense:
    • Evening-heavy usage patterns
    • Time-of-use tariffs / cheap night rates
    • Low export rate vs. high unit rate
    • Heat pump or EV charging synergy
    • Optional backup/resilience (system-dependent)
    • Lower evening-hour CO₂ vs. grid

Costs: Battery prices are typically £700 per kWh. Export tariffs vary by supplier (usually 5–15p per kWh).

Grid connection: Systems up to about 3.7 kW typically need just a notification (G98). Larger systems may need permission (G99).

These are typical values based on average usage patterns. Your actual results will vary based on your roof, shading, and how you use electricity.

Your area in context

In Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1068 kWh/kW — 59 above the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1068 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1068 kWh/kW
Export price (baseline)
10p/kWh

Browse the scenarios below. Each battery size has its own expand — open the one that matches your plan (or just explore). For each system size (2–8 kW) we show annual output, how much you use directly, what gets exported, annual benefit, upfront cost, break-even, and a 20-year net. Negative numbers are possible — that’s the honest trade-off when adding more battery than your usage profile justifies.

No battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £887, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 855 kWh 1282 kWh £227 £128 £355 £4,069 11.5 yrs £3,030
3 kW 3205 kWh 1282 kWh 1923 kWh £340 £192 £532 £6,104 11.5 yrs £4,545
4 kW 4273 kWh 1709 kWh 2564 kWh £453 £256 £710 £8,138 11.5 yrs £6,059
5 kW 5342 kWh 2137 kWh 3205 kWh £567 £320 £887 £10,173 11.5 yrs £7,574
6 kW 6410 kWh 2564 kWh 3846 kWh £680 £385 £1,065 £12,207 11.5 yrs £9,089
7 kW 7478 kWh 2991 kWh 4487 kWh £794 £449 £1,242 £14,242 11.5 yrs £10,604
8 kW 8546 kWh 3419 kWh 5128 kWh £907 £513 £1,420 £16,276 11.5 yrs £12,119

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,064, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 1282 kWh 855 kWh £340 £85 £426 £6,169 14.5 yrs £2,342
3 kW 3205 kWh 1923 kWh 1282 kWh £510 £128 £638 £8,204 12.9 yrs £4,564
4 kW 4273 kWh 2564 kWh 1709 kWh £680 £171 £851 £10,238 12.0 yrs £6,785
5 kW 5342 kWh 3205 kWh 2137 kWh £850 £214 £1,064 £12,273 11.5 yrs £9,006
6 kW 6410 kWh 3846 kWh 2564 kWh £1,020 £256 £1,277 £14,307 11.2 yrs £11,227
7 kW 7478 kWh 4487 kWh 2991 kWh £1,190 £299 £1,490 £16,342 11.0 yrs £13,448
8 kW 8546 kWh 5128 kWh 3419 kWh £1,360 £342 £1,702 £18,376 10.8 yrs £15,670

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,152, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 1496 kWh 641 kWh £397 £64 £461 £7,569 16.4 yrs £1,649
3 kW 3205 kWh 2243 kWh 961 kWh £595 £96 £691 £9,604 13.9 yrs £4,223
4 kW 4273 kWh 2991 kWh 1282 kWh £794 £128 £922 £11,638 12.6 yrs £6,798
5 kW 5342 kWh 3739 kWh 1602 kWh £992 £160 £1,152 £13,673 11.9 yrs £9,372
6 kW 6410 kWh 4487 kWh 1923 kWh £1,190 £192 £1,383 £15,707 11.4 yrs £11,946
7 kW 7478 kWh 5235 kWh 2243 kWh £1,389 £224 £1,613 £17,742 11.0 yrs £14,521
8 kW 8546 kWh 5983 kWh 2564 kWh £1,587 £256 £1,844 £19,776 10.7 yrs £17,095

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,179, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 1560 kWh 577 kWh £414 £58 £471 £9,319 19.8 yrs £111
3 kW 3205 kWh 2340 kWh 865 kWh £621 £87 £707 £11,354 16.1 yrs £2,791
4 kW 4273 kWh 3119 kWh 1154 kWh £828 £115 £943 £13,388 14.2 yrs £5,471
5 kW 5342 kWh 3899 kWh 1442 kWh £1,034 £144 £1,179 £15,423 13.1 yrs £8,152
6 kW 6410 kWh 4679 kWh 1731 kWh £1,241 £173 £1,414 £17,457 12.3 yrs £10,832
7 kW 7478 kWh 5459 kWh 2019 kWh £1,448 £202 £1,650 £19,492 11.8 yrs £13,512
8 kW 8546 kWh 6239 kWh 2308 kWh £1,655 £231 £1,886 £21,526 11.4 yrs £16,193

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,196, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 1602 kWh 534 kWh £425 £53 £479 £11,069 23.1 yrs £-1,498
3 kW 3205 kWh 2404 kWh 801 kWh £638 £80 £718 £13,104 18.3 yrs £1,253
4 kW 4273 kWh 3205 kWh 1068 kWh £850 £107 £957 £15,138 15.8 yrs £4,004
5 kW 5342 kWh 4006 kWh 1335 kWh £1,063 £134 £1,196 £17,173 14.4 yrs £6,755
6 kW 6410 kWh 4807 kWh 1602 kWh £1,275 £160 £1,436 £19,207 13.4 yrs £9,506
7 kW 7478 kWh 5609 kWh 1870 kWh £1,488 £187 £1,675 £21,242 12.7 yrs £12,257
8 kW 8546 kWh 6410 kWh 2137 kWh £1,701 £214 £1,914 £23,276 12.2 yrs £15,008

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,214, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2137 kWh 1645 kWh 491 kWh £436 £49 £486 £13,519 27.8 yrs £-3,807
3 kW 3205 kWh 2468 kWh 737 kWh £655 £74 £728 £15,554 21.4 yrs £-985
4 kW 4273 kWh 3290 kWh 983 kWh £873 £98 £971 £17,588 18.1 yrs £1,836
5 kW 5342 kWh 4113 kWh 1229 kWh £1,091 £123 £1,214 £19,623 16.2 yrs £4,658
6 kW 6410 kWh 4936 kWh 1474 kWh £1,309 £147 £1,457 £21,657 14.9 yrs £7,480
7 kW 7478 kWh 5758 kWh 1720 kWh £1,528 £172 £1,700 £23,692 13.9 yrs £10,301
8 kW 8546 kWh 6581 kWh 1966 kWh £1,746 £197 £1,942 £25,726 13.2 yrs £13,123

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

Figures are illustrative and use the same method as the calculator above. For exact results, adjust your roof direction, tariff, and usage in the calculator.

Insights for SS4

Figures below are tailored to SS4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #758 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #198 of 2997
10.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,224 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #164 of 2997
14.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,224 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1068kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1068 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 55% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 20% Based on 5,425 properties

Coverage

Rochford (100%)

Areas Covered

Roche South, Roche North and Rural, Hawkwell East, Hockley and Ashingdon, Hawkwell West, Victoria

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q4 2025

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

Property data: EPC open data (Open Government Licence), aggregated

All estimates are typical values. Actual results vary based on your specific situation, roof characteristics, and usage patterns.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Eastern

SS22 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS4
SS5 (Rochford)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,083 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SS4
SS2 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS4
SS99 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS4
SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,056 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS4
SS1 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS4

Similar sunshine across the UK

BN45 (Mid Sussex)
~1,068 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS4
SO42 (New Forest)
~1,068 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS4
CT6 (Canterbury)
~1,069 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS4